34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

November 1, 2018
New Delhi

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

New Delhi: To mark the 34th anniversary of the genocide of Sikhs in 1984, hundreds of activists on Thursday gathered near the Parliament and held a protest demonstration. They reiterated the demand of punishing the guilty of the state-sponsored Sikh pogrom and reminded the countrymen about “state organized communal genocides”. 1984 Sikh Pogrom was a human-made tragedy – it is up to humans to fight any developments in a similar direction.
Political leaders, governments and society at large must remain determined in their stance against all forms of hatred, the gathering reminded.

The 1984 riots left deep scars and more than 10 commissions and committees later, little justice has been given to the thousands of families of the victims. Young mothers and fathers have now become grandparents. An entire generation has come of age. They all pray for justice but the wheels have turned ever so slowly.

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

Speakers pointed out that in spite of immense pressure from the ruling establishment, we have never let people forget the horrendous crimes perpetrated 34 years back in the streets of Delhi and other places where innocent people so brutally murdered . In an atmosphere of growing hate crimes and state repression on those who defend human rights, it is very important to boldly come out and condemn what is wrong, even if the perpetrator is the state itself and parties of the establishment, ministers and high ranking officials. We need to counter the total silence in the mainstream media about the genocide.

Speakers pointed out that the genocide of 1984 was a meticulously planned state-organised crime and not just a spontaneous outburst. It was planned several months in advance. There is overwhelming evidence that it was planned at the highest levels including the ruling party, the cabinet, security officials, and the bureaucracy.

The genocide was a part of the overall “divide and rule” strategy of the ruling class. This strategy has been the preferred weapon in the hands of political parties and their governments to stabilize their rule and push through policies which are against the interests of people and benefit only the corporate business houses.

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

Speakers pointed out that just as the real perpetrators of the genocide of 1984 are yet to be punished, the criminals who organised the destruction of Babri Masjid, the massacres of Muslims in 2002, and other communal massacres are still roaming scot free. Attacks on minority communities have only increased since 1984. They have been the target of lynch mobs, encounter killings, and harassment and imprisonment under black laws such as UAPA.

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’

Mass violence is a political tool used by those with power for their own strategic objectives.The fact that both Congress and BJP have been involved in these criminal acts was highlighted by many speakers. Both the parties have organised communal violence and terror against the people. Speakers pointed out that people cannot rely on these parties of the establishment to punish the guilty of communal massacres.

The protest demonstration was organized by Lok Raj Sangathan along with other organisations including NCHRO.

The protest demonstration shows the growing unity of people against state organized communal genocides. The participants raised awareness and urged action to end genocide and mass atrocities, demanding victims of genocide have access to justice, truth and full reparation – and call for an end to the impunity that allows the perpetrators of these grave crimes to roam free.

34 years after the 1984 Sikh Pogrom, NCHRO joined Protest against ‘State-Sponsored Genocides’